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The premise of Knocked Up is as blunt — as basic — as its title: An attractive and newly successful TV correspondent becomes pregnant after a drunken one-night stand with Ben, who's not just unsuitable but an unholy monument to self-indulgence. Judd Apatow's film is conventional, even conservative, but somehow it plays like one of the hippest movies ever made.

Director Emanuele Crialese is a neorealist with a touch of magical realism to him; he takes his cues from the great art films of the '60s, and this gorgeous coming-to-America picture offers up a feast of imagery to match the almost boundless optimism of its characters. (Recommended)

The Van Cliburn Foundation's Fifth annual International Competition for Outstanding Amateurs is underway this week. NPR's John Ydstie talks to one of the semifinalists, 46-year-old Greg Fisher, a former child prodigy who has worked at his family's glass and mirror installation company in Edmond, Okla., for the past 30 years.

Virginia filmmaker Tom Davenport is best known for his movie adaptations of Brothers Grimm fairy tales — set in Appalachia. Now he spends much of his time making sure people see the work of other filmmakers. His Folkstreams.net is an online archive for documentaries on a range of folk culture, virtually all of them impossible to find anywhere else.

Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin) is king of the dirty-minded-but-sweet relationship comedy, and the chemistry in his latest makes for a screwball movie with a pretty big heart.

The premise — animated surfing mockumentary about penguins who supposedly invented the art of hanging, er, six — is high-concept enough to make you wonder how high the conceptualizers were. But it's a laid-back delight.

The 60th Cannes Film Festival drew more than 4,000 journalists, so it's possible you've heard a little something about the hits and misses there. Michael Moore screened a damning documentary about the U.S. health-care system, while singer Norah Jones made her acting debut in a film from Hong Kong auteur Wong Kar-Wai. Critic-at-large John Powers reports on other high- and low-lights.

Lee Atwater, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, is remembered for being a ruthless political operative. But in a new documentary about Atwater's controversial life and legacy, filmmaker Stefan Forbes shows that despite his reputation as "Darth Vader," Atwater won the respect of many, including political enemies.

Why on Earth are Monk and The Amazing Race set to make Emmy history? Forget who we think should win Sunday. TV critic Andrew Wallenstein lists the nominees whose victories would be "criminal." Even darling 30 Rock comes under Wallenstein's fire.

Plenty of actors and writers turn their family lives into one-man shows. But how many can spin tales of their father being a pimp and their stepfather being a devout religious man? Farai Chideya talks with actor and comedian Don Reed about his play, East 14th.